Thursday, December 15, 2011

WOLF SPIRIT newsletter December 2011

With the new year only one month away, this is a good time to start thinking about what changes you want to make for the new year.

My first and foremost resolution is to go through everything I own and 'lighten the load'. I need to weed through and throw out. Then I need to work on losing weight. I guess thats enough for now. It will keep me really busy for the new year. How about you? What do you plan on doing?

I feel like this year began a few months ago and here I am writting the last one for this year. Time goes too fast!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Ramapough Tribe Rallies To Fight For 'Right To Worship'

Tribe cited for building Halifax Rd. Longhouse without permit; hearing postponed one month ByJessica MazzolaAbout 200 members and supporters of the Ramapough-Lenape Nation chanted in solidarity outside Mahwah’s town hall Tuesday night after the hearing of a municipal court case against the Indian tribe was postponed 30 days.
According to the Ramapough’s attorney George Cotz, Mahwah’s zoning department cited the tribe in October for building a religious long house on its property without the proper permits. The crowd gathered to face the charge to defend what they felt was unfair treatment, he said.

"We are talking about the rights of a racial and religious minority to worship how and where they want to," Cotz said Tuesday night.

The case was postponed 30 days by municipal Judge Anthony Gianni, who said the new date should be a Thursday afternoon, and a special court session to handle this case, because "there is such an interest in it." Tuesday night numerous other regularly-scheduled cases were heard.

The township is trying to halt the construction of a Ramapough-Lenape ceremonial longhouse until the tribe gets the proper approvals and permits it needs, Mahwah Property Maintenance Officer and Zoning Inspector Tom Mulvey said last month.

The tribe is in the middle of building a spiritual longhouse made of logs, tree trunks and branches on its 14-acre open property on Halifax Road.

"This land is very important to us. It is used for religious purposes," Assistant Tribal Chief Vinny Mann, who said that the logs used to build the house are from trees that have naturally fallen down, not ones that have been cut, said.

"I am empathize with what they are trying to accomplish there, but that doesn’t mean they do not need certain things in order before they build a structure on the land," Mulvey told Patch last month. According to the inspector, the land on Halifax is in either a floodplain or a flood way, so the tribe needs approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection before it can begin building anything on it, longhouses included.

"With the last storm, there was three or four feet of water in the area, so the DEP needs to approve it before we can allow anything," he said. After DEP approval, the tribe would also need to apply for a zoning permit and a building permit from the township before they could officially begin building, Mulvey said.

Mann argues that since they are not putting together a watertight building, water would be able to flow freely through the house in the event of a flood, and he is hoping the DEP will waive the requirement, or approve the project, based on that.

"We put these poles in the ground a year ago, and now we want to finally move forward with this project," Mann said. "This is where we pray and we believe we should have the right to do that." Mann said the Ramapoughs applied for a permit from the town, but were "flat out denied" without the DEP approval. Mann said the tribe has applied for DEP approval, and is currently waiting for it.

According to Mulvey, "we have to make sure it’s in compliance with the DEP before we can approve anything." The inspector admits that approval from the state on a project like this often takes "a long time," so anyone planning on building in a floodplain should "plan in advance."

Mann says the carver they asked to do the work, an Airmont man named Joseph Liporace, Jr., "is carving spiritual images into what’s standing already."

Liporace said he is "more than honored" to be etching the traditional msiingw (pronounced "men-sing") carvings. Though not of Native American decent, or a carpenter by trade, Liporace said he carves figurines as a hobby.

"I’m not getting paid for this work, I just see it as a once in a lifetime honor. And, honestly, I didn’t really know how to make these carvings, but I prayed for guidance and it just flowed through my hands. I have no idea how it happened, but I am really enjoying it," he said.

The tribe was planning Tuesday night to replicate its big presence at its next court appearance.

"We are trying to resolve things with the township," Cotz said, "but it is not a simple question."~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Dear Santa, Please Buy Indian Again (2011)December 11, 2011
Dear Santa,

I’ve been good again this year and am very excited for Christmas.

Thank you for all of the wonderful Native-made presents you brought my family and me last year. Will you please do the same this year? Since none of this stuff is made at the North Pole you’ll have to buy it again from Indian Country — you know, Buy Indian — OK?For my mom, please bring her a purse or scarf made by Dorothy Grant. She will feel so good wearing something so beautiful.For my dad, please bring him all the Umqua Indian Foods beef jerky he can eat. He’s easy to please.For my oldest brother, please bring him a Louie Gong print Psycho Killer Whale Linocut Print. It will look cool in his college dorm room.For my older sister, please bring her a Litefoot action figurine, with flat-billed lid, high tops and beat-box accessories. She has a major crush on him. If he is out of stock, please bring her a Litefoot gift set.For me and all of my brothers and sisters, please bring them something from Native Threads, Nakota Designs, HYDZ Gear, or Haida Shoes. All of that Native-made gear is awesome.For me and my cousins, please bring us Gyasi Ross’ new book, "Don’t Know Much About Indians."For the singers and drummers in my family, please bring them a JBear Rawhide hand drum.For my great aunties, please bring them something authentic from the Quileute Nation. They are huge Twilight fans and would love anything made by Quileute People.For my mom, aunties and grandmas, please bring them Sister Sky indigenous bath and beauty products. I know they’ll love the stuff’s smell and feel.For my uncles and grandpas, please bring them Tanka Gift Baskets. They’ll love the buffalo snacks.For everyone, please put Tanka Bars in our stockings. Another great stocking stuffer: Star Nayea’s Christmas Dream CD. Life’s Beautiful Journey holiday cards by Linley Logan would also be a nice touch.Finally, for my tribe’s and all tribes’ leaders, please give them the tools to build vibrant small Indian business sectors and inter-tribal economies so Indian Country will prosper for generations to come, especially when Indian gaming fades away. Unfortunately you must have run short on these tools last Christmas, as Buy Indian still isn’t a reality in Indian Country in 2011. Hopefully that will change in 2012.Oh, and although I left you homemade chocolate chip cookies last year, I hope you will try the Tanka Bar I left you this year. It should allow you to squeeze down those chimneys a bit easier.

Thank you, Santa!

Jimmy Indian, age 9

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Native American Prayer

Oh, Great Spirit
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me, I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold
the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have
made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand the things
you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have
hidden in every leaf and rock.

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy - myself.
Make me always ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset,
my Spirit may come to you without shame.

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved two bills at a business meeting on Thursday. The committee approved S.1763, the SAVE Native Women Act. The bill restores tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians in domestic violence cases. "The SAVE Native Women Act is will work to prevent violent crimes against Native women and will hold perpetrators accountable for their criminal behavior," said Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), the chairman of the committee. "Although we cannot change the past or right the wrongs for those who have been victimized, we can change their futures by passing legislation to better protect Native women, children and families, and by putting a stop to this cycle of violence."

The Obama administration supports the bill, which has 11 co-sponsors, all Democrats. Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada), the Senate majority leader, just signed on to the effort.

"The SAVE Native Women Act takes steps to address the epidemic of violence against Native women," Reid said. "Abuse and sex trafficking of women will not be tolerated, and I will continue to support legislation that helps keep tribal communities safe in Nevada and all of Indian Country."

The committee also approved S.1065, the Blackfoot River Land Settlement. The bill settles a land dispute involving the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Idaho. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~North Dakota Rough Rider Award Critic Questions Sakakawea Eligibility

December 9, 2011
I read with great surprise that North Dakota resident Sakakawea, who traveled as a guide on the great Lewis and Clark expedition that laid the geographical history of the landscape of early America and helped to locate many of the American Indian tribes, their lands of origin and their cultural uniqueness, was being questioned as eligible to receive the prestigious Rough Rider Award by at least one historical critic.Clay Jenkinson, director of the Dakota Institute of the Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation, in the Forum article said "I think the Rough Rider Award should go to living people who are contributing to our understanding of North Dakota."

The irony of anyone suggesting that Sakakawea does not "qualify" for the award because she is not living today and because she is not an original North Dakotan is ridiculous for a number of reasons.

First of all, Sakakawea was adopted into the Hidatsa community when she was allegedly kidnapped and adapted to living among the Hidatsas. The irony, of course, is that the United States, supported by a North Dakota Chapter recognizing the Ft. Berthold Reservation and the Ft. Berthold Tribe (now the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation), placed these three distinct tribes with distinct cultural differences under one geographical roof because they lived peacefully with each other (separately) in the untamed wilds of the Midwest.

Sakakawea is unquestionably North Dakotan. If Theodore Roosevelt were still President, in fact, Mr. Jenkinson, he would waive his stick at you and say "Bully for you Sakakawea, ignore this man!" I would have to agree.

I am also from North Dakota, tribal member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. I am Metis and my people are originally from Northern Manitoba. North Dakota gave us repose when our way of life was threatened in Northern Canada. My people have deep roots and relatives here and I, among thousands, was born here. I am North Dakota, Sakakawea is North Dakota and we are proud of her.

We do not question society’s choice to allow Arnold Schwarzenegger, born in Austria, to be Governor of California. We do not question (unless you are Donald Trump) the ability for the American people to vote for the first black U.S. President whose father was born in Kenya Africa do we? Last time I checked, American Indians are now allowed to vote, albeit it not that long ago.

We voted as North Dakotans for Sakakawea to stand as holding the spirit of North Dakota. The discovery of most of North America, a land already occupied by the Indigenous people, is nothing to sneeze at – so please do not thumb your noses at our choice of North Dakota’s Rough Rider Awardee, Sakakawea, a symbol of strength, wisdom and a darn good tour guide.Monique Vondall-Rieke is a tribal attorney in North and South Dakota and a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.

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Go Forward With Courage

When you are in doubt, be still, and wait;
when doubt no longer exists for you, then go forward with courage.
So long as mists envelop you, be still;
be still until the sunlight pours through and dispels the mists
-- as it surely will.
Then act with courage.

The state of Washington can assert criminal jurisdiction over a smokeshop located in Indian Country, the Washington Supreme Court ruled on Thursday.

The Comenout family owns and operates the Indian Country Store on an Indian allotment that is not within the boundaries of a reservation. The court, however, noted that Washington is a Public Law 280 state. "Washington assumed full nonconsensual 'criminal jurisdiction over all Indian country outside established Indian reservations,'" under Public Law 280, the court wrote.

In July 2008, the state raided the smokeshop and seized 37,000 cartons of cigarettes, worth an estimated $750,000. The Comenouts were selling the tobacco without collecting state taxes.

The late Edward Comenout was the owner of the store at the time of the raid. He was a member of the Quinault Nation, which has signed a tobacco tax compact with the state. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Under H.3702, the state's new gaming law, the tribe has until July 31, 2012, to negotiate a compact. The tribe also needs to have a casino site in place, although the land doesn't have to be in trust by that time.

The law also requires the tribe to schedule an election in the host community.

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DOJ finalizes process to restore role in Public Law 280 state
Friday, December 9, 2011

The Department of Justice has finalized the process by which it can resume jurisdiction over reservations located in Public Law 280 states. Under Public Law 280, which was passed during the termination era, six states assumed criminal and civil criminal jurisdiction in Indian Country. The law divested the federal government of its concurrent jurisdiction in these "mandatory" states. The law, as amended in 1968, provides a mechanism by which a state can retrocede its jurisdiction over a particular reservation. The Tribal Law and Order Act, which President Barack Obama signed into law in 2010, takes the process one step further by allowing a tribe to request the federal government restore its role. "Assumption of concurrent Federal criminal jurisdiction under this rule does not require the approval of any State," DOJ said in a notice published in the Federal Register on December 6.

The notice states that the process does not apply to tribes in "optional" Public Law 280 states. DOJ has already concluded that it has maintained concurrent jurisdiction in "optional" states.

According to Public Law 280: Issues and Concerns for Victims of Crime in Indian Country, the "mandatory" states are California, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, Wisconsin and Alaska. There were some exceptions, as noted by the article, and three "mandatory" states have retroceded jurisdiction over certain reservations. The rule describes the process by which DOJ will evaluate requests from tribes in the mandatory states. A notice will be published in the Federal Register within 30 days, opening a comment period on the request.

Hawk is associated with the number 14, with the tarot card Temperance. The Temperance card represents the teaching of higher expressions of psychic ability and vision.

The Hawk represents a messenger in the Native American culture. It often shows up in our life when we need to pay attention to the subtle messages found around us, and from those we come into contact with. As with all messages received, it is important to recognise the messages underlying truth. We will be taught to be observant and also pay attention to what we may overlook. This could mean a talent we aren't using, a gift or unexpected help for which we haven't shown our gratitude for, or a message from the Universe. As there are so many hawk varieties, the messages vary and can affect all levels of our psyche.

Hawks are the protectors and visionaries of the Air. They hold the key to higher levels of consciousness. This power animal enables us to awakens vision and inspires a creative life purpose. Having Hawk as power animal means your life will be filled with responsibility, because Hawk people seek the overall view. You will most probably be aware of omens and spirit messages.

A Red tailed Hawk is special. It will ALWAYS be with you, for life. It has direct ties to the Kundalini, the seat of primal life force. It is linked to the base chakra. If you have this power animal, you need to be aware of and work toward fulfilling your soul's destiny. It reflects far greater intensity of energy within your life: physically, emotionally and mentally. Spiritual forces will be felt strong within you.

One trait all hawks share, is the ability to move between the seen and unseen realms gracefully, joining both worlds together. Their acute vision attributes this ability, their discriminating nature keeps them out of dangers path. Hawks have a broad vision, allowing them to see what the future holds. In man this is a symbol of prophetic insight. If this gift is underdeveloped, it is common for people with this power animal to have a tendency of over analysing everything. When this is so, clear vision is lost. You must learn to keep your analytical mind under control, not allowing it to run wild.

Hawk posses many hunting skills. The most common, when pursuing prey, is to swiftly follow the prey's efforts to get away. Once the prey is caught in the hawks mighty talons, it is then dismembered with their sharply pointed, powerful beak. For us, this may indicate that we may be able to run, but not hide from our destiny. For, eventually it will catch up with us.

The destiny of man is to awaken from their spiritual amnesia and to realign with the original intention of their soul. When the hawk gets a hold of us in his powerful talons, we will be asked to evaluate who we have become and to shatter our self created illusions. This will help our inner truth to come out into the open and for it to shine.

Hawk denotes union with All That Is. The hawk is a bird of the heavens, arranging the changes necessary to prompt our spiritual growth. Having this power animal can be bitter sweet. When accepting its presence in your life, you will be asked to surrender/give up anything that doesn't honour the integrity of all life. Whether its an idea, feeling or action. Although hard work is involved, the rewards to be reaped are great, far outweighing this.

Jack Abramoff says he's sorry for defrauding Tigua Tribe out of $4.2 million. But the convicted lobbyist isn't apologizing to tribal leaders in person. Instead he told The El Paso Times that he feels bad about stealing their money.

"I'd tell them I'm horribly sorry for the things I did that were wrong, that I wish I could make it up to them, I wish I could some way give or do something to make it better," Abramoff told the paper.

But Lt. Gov. Carlos Hisa doesn't believe Abramoff is truly remorseful. He said the apology should have come when the scandal broke in early 2004.

"I do not find it sincere. The time to come back and apologize is when the investigation was going on," Hisa told the paper.

Then he offered Abramoff a response: "You might have hurt us, but we've been through this before, we will survive. We've been here before the United States was even the United States of America. We went through just a lot of rough times and we stand proud and strong," he told the paper.

"How proud can he stand? How proud can his children be standing knowing that their dad ruined this for them?" Hisa added.

"The Southern Oregon Historical Society is being practical and prudent by selling valuable artifacts that have no local significance. The society's decision to sell a rare Cheyenne shirt dating from the early 1800s angered some who felt the collection should belong to the Cheyenne tribe, but the society was within its rights to auction the item.

The shirt's only link to Southern Oregon was Benjamin Bones, a Grants Pass resident who donated the shirt in 1957. An ancestor of Bones obtained the shirt at Fort McPherson, Neb., near modern-day North Platt.

The shirt and several other artifacts were sold at auction in San Francisco on Monday, bringing nearly $370,000 to the historical society — money the struggling organization badly needs after losing its tax base.

Cheyenne tribal officials criticized the sale, saying the shirt should be returned to the tribe."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Herbal medicine Overview:What is herbal medicine?
Herbal medicine -- also called botanical medicine or phytomedicine -- refers to using a plant's seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purposes. Herbalism has a long tradition of use outside of conventional medicine. It is becoming more mainstream as improvements in analysis and quality control along with advances in clinical research show the value of herbal medicine in the treating and preventing disease.

What is the history of herbal medicine?

Plants had been used for medicinal purposes long before recorded history. Ancient Chinese and Egyptian papyrus writings describe medicinal uses for plants. Indigenous cultures (such as African and Native American) used herbs in their healing rituals, while others developed traditional medical systems (such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine) in which herbal therapies were used. Researchers found that people in different parts of the world tended to use the same or similar plants for the same purposes.

In the early 19th century, when chemical analysis first became available, scientists began to extract and modify the active ingredients from plants. Later, chemists began making their own version of plant compounds, and over time, the use of herbal medicines declined in favor of drugs.

Recently, the World Health Organization estimated that 80% of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some part of their primary health care. In Germany, about 600 - 700 plant-based medicines are available and are prescribed by some 70% of German physicians. In the last 20 years in the United States, public dissatisfaction with the cost of prescription medications, combined with an interest in returning to natural or organic remedies, has led to an increase in herbal medicine use.

How do herbs work?

In many cases, scientists aren' t sure what specific ingredient in a particular herb works to treat a condition or illness. Whole herbs contain many ingredients, and they may work together to produce a beneficial effect. Many factors determine how effective an herb will be. For example, the type of environment (climate, bugs, soil quality) in which a plant grew will affect it, as will how and when it was harvested and processed.

How are herbs used?

The use of herbal supplements has increased dramatically over the past 30 years. Herbal supplements are classified as dietary supplements by the U.S. Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. That means herbal supplements -- unlike prescription drugs -- can be sold without being tested to prove that they are safe and effective. However, herbal supplements must be made according to good manufacturing practices.

Often, herbs may be used together because the combination is more effective and may have fewer side effects. Health care providers must take many factors into account when recommending herbs, including the species and variety of the plant, the plant's habitat, how it was stored and processed, and whether or not there are contaminants (including heavy metals and pesticides).

What is herbal medicine good for?

Herbal medicine is used to treat many conditions, such as asthma, eczema, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, menopausal symptoms, chronic fatigue, and irritable bowel syndrome, among others. Herbal supplements are best taken under the guidance of a trained health care provider. Be sure to consult with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any herbs. Some common herbs and their uses are discussed below.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) has been used in traditional medicine to treat circulatory disorders and enhance memory. Although not all studies agree, ginkgo may be especially effective in treating dementia (including Alzheimer's disease) and intermittent claudication (poor circulation in the legs). It also shows promise for enhancing memory in older adults. Laboratory studies have shown that ginkgo improves blood circulation by dilating blood vessels and reducing the stickiness of blood platelets. By the same token, this means ginkgo may also increase the effect of some blood-thinning medications, including aspirin. People taking blood-thinning medications should ask their doctor before using ginkgo.

Kava kava (Piper methysticum) is said to elevate mood, well-being, and contentment, and produce a feeling of relaxation. Several studies have found that kava may be useful in the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, and related nervous disorders. However, there is serious concern that kava may cause liver damage. It's not clear whether the kava itself caused liver damage in a few people or whether it was taking kava in combination with other drugs or herbs. It's also not clear whether kava is dangerous at previously recommended doses, or only at higher doses. Some countries have taken kava off the market. It remains available in the United States, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a consumer advisory in March of 2002 regarding the "rare" but potential risk of liver failure associated with kava-containing products.

Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is used by more than 2 million men in the United States for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. A number of studies suggest that the herb is effective for treating symptoms, including too-frequent urination, having trouble starting or maintaining urination, and needing to urinate during the night. But a well-conducted study published in the February 9, 2006 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine found that saw palmetto was no better than placebo in relieving the signs and symptoms of BPH.

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is well known for its antidepressant effects. In general, most studies have shown that St. John's wort may be an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression, and has fewer side effects than most other prescription antidepressants. But the herb interacts with a wide variety of medications, including birth control pills, so it is important to take it only under the guidance of a health care provider.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a popular alternative to commonly prescribed medications for sleep problems because it is considered to be both safe and gentle. Some studies bear this out, although not all have found valerian to be effective. Unlike many prescription sleeping pills, valerian may have fewer side effects such as morning drowsiness.

Echinacea preparations (from Echinacea purpurea and other Echinacea species) may improve the body's natural immunity. Echinacea is one of the most commonly used herbal products, but studies are mixed as to whether it can help prevent or treat colds. A meta-analysis of 14 clinical studies examining the effect of echinacea on the incidence and duration of the common cold found that echinacea supplements decreased the odds of getting a cold by 58%. It also shortened the duration of a cold by 1.4 days.
Buying standardized herbal supplements helps ensure you will get the right dose and the effects similar to human clinical trials. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about which herbal supplements are the best choice for your health concerns.

Is there anything I should watch out for?

Used correctly, herbs can help treat a variety of conditions and in some cases may have fewer side effects than some conventional medications. But because they are unregulated, herbal products are often mislabeled and may contain additives and contaminants that aren' t listed on the label. Some herbs may cause allergic reactions or interact with conventional drugs, and some are toxic if used improperly or at high doses. Taking herbs on your own increases your risk, so it is important to consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking herbal medicines. Some examples of adverse reactions from certain popular herbs are described below. St. John's wort can cause your skin to be more sensitive to the sun's ultraviolet rays, and may cause an allergic reaction, stomach upset, fatigue, and restlessness. Clinical studies have found that St. John's wort also interferes with the effectiveness of many drugs, including the blood thinner warfarin (Couamdin), protease inhibitors for HIV, birth control pills, certain asthma drugs, and many other medications. In addition, St. John's wort should not be taken with prescribed antidepressant medication. The FDA has issued a public health advisory concerning many of these interactions.

Kava kava has been linked to liver toxicity. Kava has been taken off the market in several countries because of liver toxicity.

Valerian may cause sleepiness, and in some people it may even have the unexpected effect of overstimulating instead of sedating.

Garlic, ginkgo, feverfew, and ginger, among other herbs, may increase the risk of bleeding.

Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) may increase the risk of seizures in people who have seizure disorders.
Some herbal supplements, especially those imported from Asian countries, may contain high levels of heavy metals, including lead, mercury, and cadmium. It is important to purchase herbal supplements from reputable manufacturers to ensure quality. Talk to your health care provider for more information.

Place barley, chicken stock, onion quarters, carrot thirds, celery slices, thyme, and bay leaf in a large soup pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 1 hour or until barley is tender.

Chief Strong Horse...health
TonyCricket...health Elder Wendell Deer With Horns…Health and the best outcome for him with his job.
Elder Tom Flanders…Health and Recovery
Elaine… Grandfather owls wife...health and healing
Bob C....health and healing
Bobbie C...health and strength
Theresa...health and healing
Sarah Spirit...health, healing, wisdom and strength
Leonard Peltier...spiritual strength and health
Lora Lee…Health , strength and healing
Lynn from Oxford...health, healing and strength
Pray for all that are incarcerated that they find peace and a new way.
Pray for wisdom for our Spiritual Leaders so they can help others find their way
Pray for our troops fighting for our freedom
Pray for UTAN... to keep us strong and always together
Pray for all Clan Mothers and Chiefs...to show the right way and to lead with strength and wisdom

Greetings to all. We hope this message finds you well and in good spirits.

In support of our activities underway in Washington, DC, relative to the White House Tribal Conference, we ask that everyone make a special effort to call the White House comment line today and tomorrow. Call the Comment Line: (202) 456-1111. Alternatively, call the White House Switchboard - (202) 456-1414 - and ask to be connected with the Comment Line. If calling from outside the United States, dial first the International Area Code + 1 (US country code).

'Well, just relax and let it happen,' says the rooster. 'It's no big deal.'

He did, and a few uncomfortable seconds later, out popped an egg!

He was overcome with emotion as he experienced motherhood.

He soon laid another egg -- his joy was overwhelming.

As he was about to lay his third egg, he felt a smack on the back of his head, and heard.....

"Ed, wake up! You shit the bed!"

Getting OLD just ain't what they said it would be!

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Two sisters, one blond and one brunette, inherit the family ranch. Unfortunately, after just a few years, they are in financial trouble..

In order to keep the bank from repossessing the ranch, they need to purchase a bull so that they can breed their own stock.

Upon leaving, the brunette tells her sister, 'When I get there, if I decide to buy the bull, I'll contact you to drive out after me and haul it home.'

The brunette arrives at the man's ranch, inspects the bull, and decides she wants to buy it.

The man tells her that he will sell it for $599, no less.

After paying him, she drives to the nearest town to send her sister a telegram to tell her the news.

She walks into the telegraph office, and says, 'I want to send a telegram to my sister telling her that I've bought a bull for our ranch.

I need her to hitch the trailer to our pickup truck and drive out here so we can haul it home.'

The telegraph operator explains that he'll be glad to help her, then adds, it will cost 99 cents a word.

Well, after paying for the bull, the brunette realizes that she'll only be able to send her sister one word.

After a few minutes of thinking, she nods and says, 'I want you to send her the word 'comfortable.'

The operator shakes his head. 'How is she ever going to know that you want her to hitch the trailer to your pickup truck and drive out here to haul that bull back to your ranch if you send her just the word 'comfortable?'

The brunette explains, 'My sister is a blond. The word is big.

She'll read it very slowly...

'com-for-da-bul.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I would like to share an experience with you all, to do with drinking and driving.

As you know some of us have had brushes with the authorities on our way home in recent months.

Well I for one have done something about it. The other night I was out for a dinner and a few drinks with some friends.

Well, after having far too much vino, and knowing full well I was wasted,
I did something I’ve never done before. I took a bus home.

I arrived home safely and without incident, which was a real surprise, as I have never driven a bus before.

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POOR BLONDES

A woman & her husband are lying in bed

Listening to the next door neighbor's dog..

It has been in the backyard barking for hours & hours.

The woman jumps up out of bed and says,

"I've had enough of this".

She goes downstairs.

She finally comes back up to bed

And her husband says, "The dog is still barking,

What have you been doing?"

The woman says,

"I put the dog in our backyard,

let's see how THEY like it!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Two women With Hammers...

Lynn & Judy were doing some carpenter work

on a Habitat for Humanity House.

Lynn was nailing down house siding,

would reach into her nail

Pouch, pull out a nail & either toss it

over her shoulder or nail it in.

Judy, figuring this was worth looking into, asked, '

Why are you Throwing those nails away?'

Lynn explained, 'When I pull a nail out of my pouch,

about half of Them have the head on the wrong end

& I throw them away.'

Judy got completely upset & yelled,

'You moron! Those nails aren't Defective!

They're for the other side of the house!'

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Did you hear about the two blondes

who froze to death in a drive-in movie?

They had gone to see 'Closed for the Winter.'

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A blonde was driving home after a game & got caught in a really bad hailstorm.. Her car was covered with dents, so the next day she took it to a repair shop. The shop owner saw that she was a blonde, so he decided to have some fun... He told her to go home and blow into the tail pipe really hard, & all the dents would pop out.

So, she went home, got down on her hands & knees & started

blowing into her tailpipe.. Nothing happened.. So she blew a little

harder, & still nothing happened.

Her roommate saw her & asked, 'What are you doing?' The

blonde told her how the repairman had instructed her to blow into the tail pipe in order to get all the dents to pop out.

The roommate rolled her eyes & said, 'Uh, like hello!

You need to roll up the windows first.'

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A blonde was shopping at Target &

came across a shiny silver Thermos.

She was quite fascinated by it, so she picked it up & took

It to the clerk to ask what it was.

The clerk said, 'Why, that's a thermos.....

It keeps hot things hot, And cold things cold.'

'Wow, said the blonde, 'that's amazing....I'm going to buy it!'

So she Bought the thermos & took it to work the next day.

Her boss saw it on her desk.

'What's that,' he asked?

'Why, that's a thermos..... It keeps hot things hot & cold things

Cold,' she replied..

Her boss inquired, 'What do you have in it?'

The blond replied.....

'Two popsicles &some coffee.'

+++++++++++++

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST

A blonde goes into work one morning crying her eyes out.

Her boss asked sympathetically, 'What's the matter?'

The blonde replies,

'Early this morning I got a phone call saying that

My mother had passed away.'

The boss, feeling sorry for her, says,

'Why don't you go home for the

Day? Take the day off to relax & rest.'

'Thanks, but I'd be better off here.

I need to keep my mind off it &

I have the best chance of doing that here.'

The boss agrees & allows the blonde to work as usual.

A couple of hours pass & the boss decides to check on the blonde.

He looks out from his office & sees the blonde crying hysterically...

'What's so bad now? Are you gonna be okay?' he asks

'No!' exclaims the blonde.

'I just received a horrible call from my

sister. Her mother died, too!'

Blondes Are The Best!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE YEAR'S BEST COMEBACK RESPONSE

If you ever testify in court, you might wish you could have been as sharp as this policeman. He was being cross-examined by a defense attorney during a felony trial. The lawyer was trying to undermine the police officer's credibility .....

Q: 'Officer --- did you see my client fleeing the scene?'

A: 'No sir. But I subsequently observed a person matching the description of the offender, running several blocks away.'

Q: 'With your life? Let me ask you this then officer. Do you have a room where you change your clothes in preparation for your daily duties?'

A: 'Yes sir, we do!'

Q: 'And do you have a locker in the room?'

A: 'Yes, sir, I do.'

Q: 'And do you have a lock on your locker?'

A: 'Yes, sir.'

Q: 'Now, why is it, officer, if you trust your fellow officers with your life, you find it necessary to lock your locker in a room you share with these same officers?'

A: 'You see, sir, we share the building with the court complex, and sometimes lawyers have been known to walk through that room.'

The courtroom EXPLODED with laughter, and a prompt recess was called. The officer on the stand has been nominated for this year's 'Best Comeback' line -- and we think he'll win.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As this year ends I pray for health and peace for all.
As we go along, fighting our many daily battles, please remember those worse off then you. You many not see them but they are out there. They are the ones you hear about on the news at night, the ones you read about in the paper. It is so easy to say "Those poor people" and not think...it could have been me/us. Evil abounds folks, thank Creator for each new day, ask him to protect and us from evil this day. Pray for your neighbors that they are not touched by this evil. Keep your family close and safe. Help each other, even if you don't know a person that needs help, if you are near, do what you can. There are plenty of organizations looking for donations...it doesn't have to always be money, there are other ways to help..just ask.